Quota-seeking Jats dominate Haryana police force: Report

SummaryWhile members of the dominant community in Haryana — Jats — have threatened the state and Centre government of launching a fresh stir to press their demand for reservation in government jobs and admission to educational institutes, a Karnal-based NGO came out with the details on how the Jats were already dominant in government jobs.

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While members of the dominant community in Haryana — Jats — have threatened the state and Centre government of launching a fresh stir to press their demand for reservation in government jobs and admission to educational institutes, a Karnal-based NGO came out with the details on how the Jats were already dominant in government jobs.

The NGO had collected the information about recruitment of Jats to the state police force under the Right to Information Act. While addressing a press conference in Karnal on Sunday, members of Janhit Social Welfare Society said that it would move the Supreme Court against the reservation demand made by Jats in Haryana.

The society’s president, Advocate Jitender Rana, said, “Though we had sought information under the RTI from all the districts, but even after more than a year we were supplied information by only three districts, including Rohtak, Faridabad and Mahendergarh. The figures are self explanatory. In Rohtak, of the total police force, 61 per cent are Jats. In Mahendergarh, over 29 per cent policemen are Jats, while in Faridabad, Jat representation in the police force is over 34 per cent. In all the three districts, representation of Jats in police force is more than any other caste. Why do they (Jats) need any more reservation, and on what basis?”

The Society’s RTI Cell in-charge, Akshay Sharma, said, “Reservation should be given on the basis of economic and financial status of a person, and not of a community. The state and union governments have already provided various benefits to the economically weaker sections. The Below Poverty Line (BPL) card scheme is applicable for people from all castes and communities, including Jats. We are not saying that Jats are not poor, but then reservation should be made to uplift the poor, and not only a community. Demanding reservation on the basis of a particular caste is just an attempt to create division and rift among castes and communities”.

Taking a dig at the Khaps in Haryana, Rana said, “It is time that the Khap panchayats change their stance on reservation. They should demand reservation for the poor and downtrodden, rather than demanding reservation for a particular community. Also the fight for reservation should be fought in a democratic manner, and not by blocking roads and rail tracks”.